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Dentist Salary in 2026

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth. They perform procedures from fillings and crowns to extractions and root canals.

Median Salary

$164,000

$13,667/mo

Entry Level

$129,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$204,000

experienced

Job Growth

+4%

10-yr outlook

Dentist Overview

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth. They perform procedures from fillings and crowns to extractions and root canals.

Education

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Experience

0-2 years

Industry

Healthcare

Total Jobs (US)

155K

5-Year Growth

+10%

Category

Healthcare

Hourly Rate

$78.85/hr

Monthly Pay

$13,667

Dentist Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Dentist salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Dentist Salary

$179,000

$14,917/month · $6,885/biweekly · $86.06/hr

Dentist Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Dentist field.

25th Percentile$143,000
$143K
Median (50th)$164,000
$164K
75th Percentile$184,000
$184K
90th Percentile$225,500
$226K
Top Earners$247,000
$247K

Entry-level Dentists earn around $129,000, while the top 10% earn $225,500 or more.

Top Paying States for Dentists

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
California$194,000+$30,000
New York$189,000+$25,000
Pennsylvania$164,000$0
Texas$161,000$-3,000
Florida$161,000$-3,000

Top Paying Cities for Dentists

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
New York$194,000+$30,000
Los Angeles$184,000+$20,000
Miami$167,000+$3,000
Philadelphia$167,000+$3,000
Houston$162,000$-2,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

Restorative DentistryOral SurgeryProsthodonticsDigital ImagingPatient Management

Certifications

NBDEState LicensureBoard Certification

Dentist Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Dentist from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$129,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$167,000

3-7 years

Senior

$204,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$247,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Dentist Salary FAQ

Methodology & Data Sources — Dentist Salary

How we calculate Dentist salary data: Our figures combine BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the national salary baseline, adjusted by cost-of-living multipliers from the C2ER Cost of Living Index. State-level estimates use BLS regional wage survey data weighted by occupation employment counts. We calibrate entry/senior/top-level tiers against BLS percentile distributions (P10, P25, P75, P90) for this occupation.

  1. National median salary: $164,000 — sourced from BLS OEWS for SOC code corresponding to Dentist in the Healthcare sector.
  2. Entry-level ($129,000) and senior-level ($204,000) figures reflect BLS P25 and P75 percentile wage estimates adjusted for experience.
  3. Job outlook: +4% projected growth through 2034, from BLS Employment Projections program. Approximately 155K total positions nationwide.
  4. 5-year salary growth: 10% over the past 5 years, derived from BLS Employment Cost Index for Healthcare sector wages.
  5. Education requirement: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
  6. State-level estimates use BLS regional CPI-U data and OEWS metropolitan area wage surveys, normalized to the national median of $164,000.

Authoritative US data sources for Dentist compensation:

Disclaimer: Dentist salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.

Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated 2026 · BLS data current as of latest OEWS annual release

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